As wide a variety of candidates as possible are being urged to come forward for election to the Legislative Council -- in a bid to lose its image as a club for retiring MHKs.

Four seats in the upper chamber are up for grabs on March 12.

Juan Turner, Geoff Corkish and Michael Coleman’s five-year term of office end on February 28, as does that of Jane Poole-Wilson, who was elected to LegCo only in May last year following the retirement of Tony Wild.

Previous years have seen LegCo elections descending into farce with multiple ballots held over several weeks failing to fill vacancies.

Changes to the procedure for electing MLCs were introduced last year and were used for the first time when Mrs Poole-Wilson was elected.

The changes saw the election process be made by public ballot, rather than in secret. Nominations from the floor are no longer permitted and a simple majority replaces the 13-vote majority previously required.

Nominations for the four vacancies will close on Friday, February 23.

Tynwald president Steve Rodan MLC has been tasked by Tynwald with encouraging a wide variety of candidates to come forward and to make the process as accessible as possible.

He said: ’Tynwald should represent the community it serves. Although the Legislative Council is not directly elected by the people but indirectly elected by the House of Keys, it should nevertheless reflect as far as possible the different groups which make up the population of the Isle of Man.

’In this year’s elections to the Legislative Council I would like to see an increase in participation by candidates who are not already known to members of Tynwald or who otherwise might feel less able to put themselves forward.

’In the past, Tynwald has been perceived as a "club". I want to combat that perception and make it easy for anyone to offer themselves as a potential member.

’Ultimately it is up to the House of Keys to elect the best people for the job. For my part, I want to ensure that MHKs have the broadest possible range of candidates to choose from.’

Mr Speaker added: ’The work of Legislative Council is important to the workings our unique parliamentary system.

’It is in the best interests of the whole island that we attract a diverse range of talent to our Legislative Council to supplement those in the House of Keys.

’It is refreshing that Tynwald has actively endorsed this need for diversity and to attract people who have something to offer, but take on a role with a mandate secondary to that of the Keys.’

Lord Lisvane in his review of the functioning of Tynwald, recommended that MHKs should not be eligible to be nominated for LegCo - a reform designed to address the criticism of the upper chamber as a ’retirement club’ for MHKs. But that suggestion has not been taken forward.

Another recommendation not proceeded with is the idea that MLCs should be not made department members. Tynwald in November approved an amendment that MLCs should only be a member of one department.

For more information on how to stand for election to LegCo you can go to: www.tynwald.org.im/about/news/Pages/1803.aspx